London to get 5G internet by 2020?

London Mayor Boris Johnson announced that the local authorities of London will team up with the University of Surrey to provide 5G internet access to all of the capital’s residents by 2020, according to a report from The Daily Telegraph.

This plan is in line with Prime Minister David Cameron’s announcement four months ago about igniting a “permanent technological revolution” in the country with the help of lightning-fast 5G internet.

Since the implementation of 1G in 1981, each subsequent generation of mobile internet standard has become significantly faster every decade or so. 5G is still in the conceptual stage, but it is estimated to be 250 times quicker than 4G. The Prime Minister said 5G would be capable of downloading a 800MB movie in just one second.

“London is earning a reputation for being the tech capital of Europe and that is why we need to ensure every Londoner is able to access the very best digital connectivity. Rapidly improving the connectivity of this great city is a key part of the Infrastructure Plan for London,” he said.

Furthermore, Mr Johnson pledged to create a map detailing the internet speeds of various properties across London. This database will be offered to potential tenants and buyers and could be used to improve internet access in areas where it is most needed.

If the mayor is able to fulfil his promise, London’s 5G infrastructure is likely to be a prototype. Even telecommunication firm EE, which was the first company to implement 4G in the United Kingdom, is expected to introduce its 5G network later in 2022.